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Global Steel Output Falls 0.2% as North America Gains 3.4% in September 2026
Global crude steel production declined slightly in September 2026, falling 0.2% year over year to 142.4 million metric tonnes. North America and Africa recorded growth, while the European Union and Middle East reported notable declines, according to the World Steel Association.
By Paul Ploumis
Published: October 26, 2026
Market data: September 2026
Key Points
- Global production: September crude steel output fell 0.2% to 142.4 million metric tonnes.
- North America: Production increased 3.4% to 9.3 Mt, while nine-month output rose 4.7%.
- Asia and Oceania: Monthly production reached 104.0 Mt, up 0.7%, despite a decline in cumulative output.
- Europe: EU production fell 5.0% to 10.1 Mt.
- Middle East: Output dropped 20.4%, the steepest regional percentage decline.
MONTREAL (Scrap Monster): Global crude steel production edged down 0.2% year over year to 142.4 million metric tonnes (Mt) in September 2026, according to data released by the World Steel Association (worldsteel) on October 23.
The 70 reporting countries, which accounted for approximately 98% of worldwide crude steel production in 2025, produced a combined 1,367.5 Mt during January–September 2026, down 0.7% from the corresponding period a year earlier.
Regional performance was mixed. North America and Africa recorded stronger production growth, while Europe and the Middle East reported declines. Asia and Oceania remained the largest steel-producing region, accounting for most of the world's monthly output.
Asia and Oceania Remain the Largest Steel-Producing Region
Asia and Oceania produced 104.0 Mt of crude steel in September, up 0.7% from September 2025.
Despite that monthly increase, cumulative production during the first nine months declined 0.9% to 1,009.8 Mt.
China, the world's largest steel-producing country, manufactured 73.6 Mt in September, an increase of just 0.1% year over year. However, its January–September output fell 2.9% to 724.8 Mt.
India followed a different pattern, with September production increasing 1.9% to 13.9 Mt. Nine-month output advanced 5.6% to 130.0 Mt.
The figures highlight a significant difference between the region's two largest producers: Chinese output was lower over the nine-month period, while India maintained production growth.
North American Steel Production Rises 3.4%
North America produced 9.3 Mt of crude steel in September 2026, an increase of 3.4% compared with the same month last year.
Production for January–September reached 84.7 Mt, up 4.7% year over year.
The United States accounted for an estimated 7.2 Mt of September production, representing a 4.3% annual increase.
U.S. output for the first nine months totaled an estimated 64.9 Mt, up 5.8% from the corresponding period in 2025.
The North American figures contrast with the marginal global decline, showing that the region maintained stronger year-over-year production growth than the overall world market.
Africa Records Strongest Regional Production Growth
Africa posted the largest percentage increase among the major reporting regions.
September crude steel production climbed 10.6% to 2.2 Mt.
During the first nine months of 2026, African steelmakers produced 19.0 Mt, an increase of 9.7% over the comparable 2025 period.
Although Africa represents a much smaller share of global steel output than Asia or Europe, its year-over-year growth exceeded that of every other reporting region in September.
European Steel Production Remains Under Pressure
European steel production continued to show weakness in September.
The European Union's 27 member countries produced 10.1 Mt, down 5.0% year over year.
The Other Europe region, which includes Türkiye and the United Kingdom, recorded a smaller decline of 1.4% to 3.6 Mt.
For January–September, EU output totaled 94.5 Mt, down 0.8%. Other Europe reported cumulative production of 33.0 Mt, an increase of 4.1%.
The distinction shows that September's weakness was not uniform across Europe's different steel-producing markets.
Middle East Records Sharpest Decline
The Middle East experienced the steepest regional percentage drop in September crude steel production.
Output fell 20.4% year over year to 3.6 Mt.
Production across the region totaled 36.9 Mt for January–September, representing a 9.2% decline from the corresponding period in 2025.
Russia and other Commonwealth of Independent States countries, together with Ukraine, reported a 1.9% September decline to 6.1 Mt.
South American production edged up 0.2% to 3.5 Mt, leaving the region broadly unchanged from a year earlier.
September 2026 Crude Steel Production by Region
The following table summarizes the World Steel Association's September production figures across all eight reporting regions.
| Region | Output (Mt) | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| Asia and Oceania | 104.0 | +0.7% |
| European Union (27) | 10.1 | −5.0% |
| North America | 9.3 | +3.4% |
| Russia/CIS + Ukraine | 6.1 | −1.9% |
| Other Europe | 3.6 | −1.4% |
| Middle East | 3.6 | −20.4% |
| South America | 3.5 | +0.2% |
| Africa | 2.2 | +10.6% |
| Global Total | 142.4 | −0.2% |
Source: World Steel Association, September 2026 crude steel production report, released October 23, 2026. Figures may not sum exactly due to rounding.
ScrapMonster Edge: North American Steel Output Outpaces the Global Market
The most important distinction in worldsteel's September figures is the difference between global production and the performance of major individual steelmaking markets.
While worldwide crude steel production declined 0.2%, North American output increased 3.4%. The United States recorded an even stronger estimated gain of 4.3%.
| Market | Sep. Output | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| Global | 142.4 Mt | −0.2% |
| North America | 9.3 Mt | +3.4% |
| United States* | 7.2 Mt | +4.3% |
| China | 73.6 Mt | +0.1% |
| India | 13.9 Mt | +1.9% |
Source: World Steel Association, September 2026. *U.S. production is estimated. The United States is included in the North American regional total and must not be added separately.
The nine-month comparison reinforces the divergence:
- Global production: −0.7%.
- North America: +4.7%.
- United States: +5.8% (estimated).
- China: −2.9%.
- India: +5.6%.
China continued to produce substantially more steel than any other country, but its nine-month output declined while India and North America expanded production.
For scrap processors, steel traders and industrial buyers, these differences provide useful context when assessing regional steelmaking activity and potential raw-material requirements.
Important distinction: Higher crude steel production does not automatically establish increased purchased scrap consumption or higher scrap prices. Scrap demand also depends on the production process, metallic charge mix and individual mill operating conditions.
Worldsteel Expects Global Steel Demand to Remain Flat in 2026
The mixed production figures come against a relatively subdued global steel-demand outlook.
In its October 12, 2026 Short Range Outlook, worldsteel forecast worldwide steel demand of approximately 1,722 Mt in 2026, essentially unchanged from 2025.
The association expects demand to recover by 1.7% in 2027, reaching approximately 1,752 Mt.
Regional expectations also differ considerably. Worldsteel forecasts U.S. steel demand growth of 2.0% in 2026, compared with a projected 2.0% decline in China.
India remains among the stronger major steel markets, with demand forecast to increase 7.9% in 2026.
These are forward-looking estimates of steel consumption, rather than reported crude steel production figures, and should be assessed separately from the September output statistics.
ScrapMonster Market Read
September's marginal decline in global crude steel production conceals significant regional differences.
Asia and Oceania remained dominant by production volume, but weaker nine-month output in China contrasted with continued growth in India.
North America's performance was comparatively stronger. Regional production increased 3.4% in September and 4.7% over the first nine months, with the United States recording growth above the regional average.
Europe and the Middle East followed a weaker trajectory, particularly the latter, where September production declined by more than 20%.
For the recycling and steel industries, these figures demonstrate why global production totals should not be treated as representative of conditions in every regional market.
Steelmaking activity remains an important indicator for ferrous raw-material markets, but the direct implications for scrap consumption and pricing require separate examination of mill purchasing, production methods and local supply conditions.
What to Watch Next
- North America: Whether the region maintains its stronger year-over-year production performance in subsequent monthly reports.
- China and India: Whether the gap between declining Chinese nine-month output and expanding Indian production continues.
- Europe: Whether production stabilizes following September's declines.
- Middle East: The direction of steelmaking activity after the sharp September contraction.
- Steel demand: How actual production and consumption compare with worldsteel's October outlook.
The September data show a global steel industry moving at different speeds, with North American and Indian growth standing against weaker production trends elsewhere.
